Obama Sets Off Media Controversy by Complimenting Woman's Looks

President Barack Obama has created a minor controversy within progressive media circles by complimenting the looks of California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Obama praised Harris Thursday as “brilliant,” “dedicated,” and “tough.” He then capped off the compliment, “She also happens to be, by far, the best-looking attorney general.”

The remark drew criticism from some progressive authors as sexist. Jonathan Chait of New York magazine said Obama set a “disgraceful” example for “gender equality in the workforce.”

Politico’s Dylan Byers wondered aloud if the heated reaction to Obama’s compliment was a sign of a larger problem of political correctness. “How did it become so difficult to call a woman good looking in public?” he tweeted.

Pundit Zerlina Maxwell responded, “when we became full humans and not objects.”

The exchange became more contentious from there.

sigh RT @dylanbyers: So it is no longer acceptable, under any terms, to publicly compliment a person for their looks in public?